An Aztec Folio

Text 2: The Wonderful Toltecs
Tr. by DKJ

Background: The Aztecs knew that people they called the Toltecs (Töltëcah, “people of the reeds”) had ruled Mexico in earlier times, and they were relentless in raiding Toltec ruins for any curios they could find. In general their view of the Toltecs, like the Medieval view of the Roman empire, was that the Toltecs had created a wonderful civilization, admirable in all respects, as shown by their clever handicrafts and beautiful architecture. The general attitude is well reflected in the following passage.

The text comes from the Florentine Codex, Bernardino de Sahagún’s Historia General de la Cosas de Nueva España (Book X, Appendix, chapter 29)

Linguistic Note: The Nahuatl spelling has been modernized following the interpretation in Launey (1980: 212-227). Vowel length is here represented by a dieresis (umlaut) rather than a macron. In a few cases I have overruled Launey’s vowel length decisions. I have slightly abridged the text and rendered it into English, guided in part by Launey’s French version. The line numbers agree with those in Launey’s collection.

And the Tolteca mountain is to be seen; and the Tolteca pyramids, the mounds, and the surfacing of Tolteca [temples].

8. auh onoc in Töltëca-tlapalcatl itto, auh äno in tlällan in Töltëca-caxitl, in Töltëca-cömitl; auh miyacpa äno in tlällan in Töltëca-cözcatl, in mäcuextli in mähuiztic, in chälchihuitl, in teöxihuitl, in quetzalitztli.

And Tolteca fabrics are there to be seen, and tolteca bowls in the earth, Tolteca pots are taken from the earth. And many times there are taken from the earth Tolteca jewels: awesome arm bands, turquoise, emerald-green jade.

And these Tolteca called themselves Chichimeca. There [was] no single word for them. Their name is taken from —it comes from— their manner of life, the works of their artisans [töltëcah], their way of dong things.

It was spread out in four parts. One was facing east; this house was of gold. For this reason was it called the house of gold. That which served as the stucco was gold plate applied, joined to it.

[It is not clear whether rooms or individual buildings are meant here. Another house or room faced west and was covered with fine turquoise and called the “house of jade” (chälchiuhcalli). Another faced south and was covered with shells and called the house of shells (tëccizcalli). Another faced the north; it was covered with red shells.]

And [one] was facing west, toward what is called the sun’s setting place; it was called the quetzal house.

[The feathers were from quetzal (quetzalli) and cotinga (xiuhtötötl) birds. Facing south was a part covered with feathers of eagles and other white birds. And the north facing one was covered with red feathers, such as those of the red spoonbill (quechölli) and the red arara (cuezalin).
A typical quetzal is shown at left. The Peruvian Cock-of-the-Rock shown at right is one of many different kinds of cotingas. Try googling "cotinga" and clicking on "images" and you will be surprised at what you find. What kind should we imagine that the Toltec feather house made use of?]